title: Phycobilisome: architecture of a light-harvesting supercomplex.
abstract: The phycobilisome (PBS) is an extra-membrane supramolecular complex composed of many chromophore (bilin)-binding proteins (phycobiliproteins) and linker proteins, which generally are colorless. PBS collects light energy of a wide range of wavelengths, funnels it to the central core, and then transfers it to photosystems. Although phycobiliproteins are evolutionarily related to each other, the binding of different bilin pigments ensures the ability to collect energy over a wide range of wavelengths. Spatial arrangement and functional tuning of the different phycobiliproteins, which are mediated primarily by linker proteins, yield PBS that is efficient and versatile light-harvesting systems. In this review, we discuss the functional and spatial tuning of phycobiliproteins with a focus on linker proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences (Biology), Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan.
authors.forename: Mai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeuchi
mesh_terms: D045342:Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D052979:Phycobiliproteins / Q000737:chemistry; D045524:Phycobilisomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D045342:Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes; D052979:Phycobiliproteins; D045524:Phycobilisomes